Switch-actuating mechanism



April 4, 1939. J. E. P, GRANT SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1938 NW hw April 1939. J E, P. GRANT 2,153,462

SWITCH-ACTUATING MEGHANI SM Filed March 31, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 4, 1939. J. E. P. GRANT 2,153,462

SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed March 51, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 4, 1939. J GRANT 2,153,462

SWITCH'ACTUATING MECHANIS Filed March 51, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 4, 1939. J.'E. P. GRANT SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed March 51, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 5 April 4, 1939. J, E. P. GRANT SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM 8 Shets-Sheet 6 Filed March 51, 1958 April 1939. J. E. P. GRAN'T 2,153,462

SWITGH-ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed March 31, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 6'0 Fag .14,

' 9 60 E J6 [Q rm IT \J] C Apri l 4, 1939. J E R GRANT 2,153,462

SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM FiledMarch 51, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 2,153,462

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH-AOTUATING MECHANISM John E. r. Grant, Swarthmoro, Pa. Application March 31, 1938, Serial No. 199,254 14 Claims. (01. 200-48) This invention relates to electric switches, and Fig- 11 is a side elevational View Of a switch a principal object of the invention is to provide constituting still another embodiment of my an improved operating mechanism for discont O nesting switches that shall be characterized by Fig. 12 is a plan view of the switch shown in relative simplicity of form and high efhciency Fig. 11; 5

' of operation. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view illustrating a de- Switches of this class conventionally employ tail of the switch mechanism shown in Figs. elongated switch arms which, when retracted 11 and 12; from the operative position, afford a wide gap Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line Ill-l4, between the temiinal or contact elements of the Fig. 12;

switch. Manipulation of this relatively long and Fig. 15 is an end elevational view oi. the switch heavy arm requires an expenditure of considershown in the immediately preceding fi r with able power, and in order to reduce to a minimum the switch arm in the elevated position; r the force required for operation, and for other 8. 16 is Sehematie development of the S reasons hereinafter set forth, it is desirable to train of the switch mechanism illustrated in Figs. 15

disengage the blade, conventionally carried by 11 to 15, inclu iv the arm, from the relatively fixed contact ele- Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of still anment before the retractive movement of the arm other form of switchwper nz m hani m Withis initiated. This initial disengagement of the in the scope of y v nti n; blade may be accomplished in a number of dif- Fig. 18 is a P View 0! the mechanism Shown 20 ferent ways, such as for example, by a simple in F 1'1; longitudinal retraction, or by a twisting move- E 8- 19 is a fragmenta y Sectional V On e ment of the blade, or by a combination of these line 9l9, Fig- 18, 8nd two movements. My invention contemplates the Fi 20 1s a sche a c d ve p e t o e gear provision of novel mechanism, applicable in printrain of the mechanism in Figs. 17 and 18. 25 ciple to all types of switchesof this general class, W th reference to Fi s. 1 to 6. inclusive o which-through the medium of toothed gears may the drawings, the switch therein disclosed comeiIect all the movements of the parts required for prises D Stationery insulate! stacks, and normal actuation of the switch. 2 respectively, and an intermediate stack 3 which In the attached drawings, in which 1 have is capable of rotary movement aboutits vertical 30 illustrated several different types of switch beaxis. S d Stacks being u ted in the Present longing to the general class to which this lnveninstance upon a common base I. Supported in tion relates: fixed position upon the stacks l and 3 is a casing Figure 1 is a side elevational and partial longi- 5 which houses a gea system, as shown in Fi 3- tudinal sectional view oLa three insulator-stack The gear system comprises a D 0f p switch made in accordance with my invention; posed bevel gears 8 and I secured on the upper Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the switch; end of a drive shaft in which projects upwardly Fig. 3 is a section on the lineJ-S, Fig. 1; from andlsrotatable with the stack 3. The gears Fig. 4 is a plan view of the element shown in i and I are adapted to mesh respectively with Fig. 3, with the casing removed; 1 gears 8 and 9, the gear I being secured as shown 40 Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of elements in Fig. 6 to an operating shaft ll joumaled in of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4; the casing 5. The gear 9, as also shown in Fig. Fig. 6 is. a fragmentary sectional view on the 6, is secured to a second operating shaft in line 6-6. Fig. 2; l I the form of a sleeve I! which loosely embraces Fig." '7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the shaft ll. Both the shaft II and the sleeve a modified form of operating mechanism within II project through a wall of the casing 5, the scope of my invention said section beingmand on the projecting end of the shaft II is setaken on the line l--' ,Fi'e- 8: cured a hollow switch arm n. .This arm l3, Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in one angular position mechanism shown in Fig. 7 taken on the line of the shaft H projects transversely into close 5 8-8 of the latter figure; proximity to a side wall of a casing I 4 supported Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views on the stack 2, this casing housing a, contact taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 8, showing the elemember 15 constituting one of the terminal elements of the mechanism in diflerent operative ments of the switch proper. The outer end of positions; the arm 13 isprovided with a casing 16, the outer 55 provided at the bottom with a projecting flange l8 which forms an abutment or seat for the bottom wall of the casing |6.

To the outer end of the sleeve l2, as shown in Fig. 6, is secured an arm 2|, and pivotally secured to the outer end of this arm, see Figs. 1

and 2, is a rod 22 which extends through the hollow arm l3 and which carries at its outer end a blade 23 which is adapted to engage the contact element I5 to close the electric circuit controlled by the switch. When the switch is closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the blade 23 projects through the registering apertures H in the proximate walls of the casings I4 and l6, and is clamped between the resilient arms of the contact member I 5. In this position of the blade 23, it is apparent that the arm l3 cannot be elevated from the position in which it is shown, and that such elevation of the arm around the axis of the shaft ll cannot be effected until the rod 22 is retracted to, a position wherein the blade 23 lies entirely within the casing l6, and is, therefore, withdrawn from its normal engagement with the contact member |5. In. opening the switch, therefore, the first requirement is to retract the rod 22 to disengage the blade 23 from the contact member |5.

With reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that the gears 6 and 1 are in effect interrupted, the teeth in each instance being restricted to a portion only of the complete circumference of the gear body. The teeth of the gears 8 and 9 may be similarly confined to a portion only of the circumference of those gears. With the switch elements in the closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the teeth of the gear I are in mesh with the teeth of the gear 9, whereas the teeth of the gear 6 are out of mesh with the teeth of the gear 8. It is apparent, therefore, that the initial rotary movement of the stack 3 and of the gears 6 and I in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 will result in immediate actuation of the gear 3, but will leave the gear 8 unaffected. In this initial movement of the stack, therefore, the sleeve |2 which carries the gear 9 and the arm 2| will be turned about its axis, whereas the shaft II which carries the gear 8 and the arm l3 will remain stationary. This initial movement of the gear 1 acting through the gear 9, the sleeve l2 and the arm 2| is suflicient to iongitudinally retract the rod 22 to an extent disengaging the blade 23 from the contact member l5 and withdrawing the blade into the interior of the casing l6 as previously described. When this retractive movement of the rod 22 has been completed, the gear 6 will have been turned sufliciently to bring its teeth into mesh with the teeth of the gear 8, and the continued movement of rotation of the stack 3 will, therefore, result in a joint rotation of the shaft II and sleeve l2 and ah elevation from its normal operative position of the arm I3. During the elevation of the tubular arm l3, the relative positions of the rod 22 and the arm' |3 will remain unchanged, the two moving as a unit aboutthe common axis of the shaft and sleeve. The rotary movement. of the stack 3 and the gears is continued until the arm I 3 has reached the fully retracted position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5. In the present instance, the rotary movement of the stack 3 is eifected through an arm 24 secured as shown'in Fig. 1 to the bottom of the stack and a traverse rod 25 which is suitably connected to the outer end of the said arm 24.

In the reverse or closing movement of the switch, the rotational movement of the stack 3 in the opposite direction will cause an initial lowering of the arm l3 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 and a subsequent advancement of the rod 22, bringing the blade 23 again into engagement with the contact element |5.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that at each end of the series of teeth on the gear 8, I provide a concaved projection, l0 and Illa respectively, which conforms to the arc of the untoothed beveled surface of the gear 6 and is adapted to fit neatly against the latter. Thus, when the switch elements are in the closed or circuit-forming positions, as shown for example in Fig. 5, the gears 6 and 8 are so relatively positioned that the projection I6 is in engagement with the untoothed portion of the former gear with the result that the gear 3, in effect, is locked in position, whereas the gear 6 is free for rotary movement with the shaft 3a. Under these circumstances, movement of the gear 3, and of the arm I 3 to which that gear is connected, can be initiated only by turning the gear 6 to an extent bringing the teeth of that gear into mesh with the teeth of the gear 8. Similarly, when the switch elements are in the fully retracted position, the projection Illa is in engagement with the untoothed portion of the gear 6, so that in this position'also the gear 8 and the switch arm are locked in position against movement from any agency except the gear 6. This device not only locks the switch arm both in the closed and retracted positions, so that ii desired the switch may be mounted in inverted position without danger of the switch arm moving from those positions by gravity, but also insures continuous operative and synchronized relation between the various gears of the entire set.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the switch-operating mechanism is mounted upon insulator stacks 26 and 21, the latter stack in this instance being stationary and the stack 26 being mounted for rotary movement about its vertical axis. From 5 the stack 26 a vertical shaft 28 extends upwardly and'into the interior of a casing 29, which is suitably supported upon the stacks. The shaft 28 carries a worm 3| which meshes with a worm wheel 32 carried by and fixed to a shaft 33 journaled, as shown in Fig. 8, in the casing 29. The shaft 33 carries, one at each side of the worm wheel 32, spur gears 34 and 35. The gear 34 meshes with a gear 36 carried by a shaft 31 suitably journaled in the casing and projecting through a wall of the latter. To the outer end of the shaft 31 is secured an arm 38, the outer offset end of which is pivotally connected to an end of a rod 39, this rod corresponding to the rod 22 of the previously described embodiment. The gear 35 meshes with a gear 4| which is carried by a shaft 4-2 journaled in the casing 23 in'axial alignment with the shaft 31, the shaft 42 extending through the opposite wall of the casing 23. Secured to'the projecting end of the shaft is an arm 43, and this arm in efiect constitutes the terminal portion of a tubular arm 44 which corresponds to the arm I3 of the previously described embodiment.

As illustrated, the gears 34, 36, 35 and 4| are interrupted, but the gears 35 and 4| differ from the other gears in that the latter has at each end of its toothed segment a projection 45 and 46 respectively, the recessed outer faces of which are adapted to fit against the somewhat radially extended untoothed portion of the gear 35, so that when the gears 35 and 4| have been moved to an extent such that the segmental toothed portions thereof pass out of mesh, the gear 4| will be held thereafter stationary, this immobilization of the gear 4| being effected through the medium of the projections 45 and 46 in obvious manner.

- In Figs. '7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, the relative positions of the gears 34, 36, 35 and 4| correspond to the closed position of the switch, it being noted that whereas the teeth of the gears 34 and 36 are meshing with each other, the toothed portion of the gear 35 is out of mesh with the toothed portion of the gear 4|. Initial rotation of the shaft 33, therefore, will result in a movement of the gear 36 to the exclusion of the gear 4|. In this initial movement of the gear 36, the rod 39 will be drawn longitudinally to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 7, in which position the blade at the outer end of the rod 39 will be disengaged from its contact member and the electric circuit thereby broken. When the arm 38 has been moved to the fully retracted position, the gear 35 will have advanced sufliciently. to bring the toothed portion of that gear into meshed relation with the toothed portion of the gear 4|, and continued rotation of the shaft 33 will then result in a retraction of the arm 43-44 to the fully retracted position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 7.

The final position of the gears 35 and 4| is illustrated in Fig. 10, in which it will be noted that the projection 46 on the gear 4| engages the periphery of the untoothed portion of the gear 35. Under these conditions and as previously described,

the gear 4| is held stationary and can be moved from the position which it occupies only by action ofthe gear 35. In its essential mode of operation, the switch illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, is the same as that of the previously described embodiment.

The switch illustrated in Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, involves a somewhat different mode of operation. In this instance, the electric circuit is closed through the medium of a blade 41, the opposite side edges of which are resiliently engaged and the blade thereby held under trans verse compression between resilient arms 48, 48 of a U-shaped contact member 49. The contact member is channeled for reception of a spring 5| which presses the arms of the contact member inwardly against the side edges of the blade 41. As shown in Fig. 11,- the contact member 49 is mounted in the interior of a hood 52 upon the upper end of a fixed insulator stack 53; and the blade 41 is carried at the end of an arm 54 which is connected as hereinafter described to switchactuating mechanism including a rotatable insulator stack 55. Contact between theblade 41 and the contact member 49is in this case efiected by an angular movement of the blade 41 from the position, for example, indicated in broken lines in Fig. 13 to the position shown in full lines, it being noted that in this angular adjustment of the blade the side edges thereof engage and force apart the arms 48, 48 of the contact member. In this case, therefore, it is necessary to provide for this angular movement of the blade 41 'in the operating mechanism, as well as for retraction of the blade by longitudinal movement of the supporting arm 54 from the interior of the hood 52, and also for the subsequent elevation of the arm 54 into the fully retracted position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 11.

Referring now to Fig. 14, it will be noted that a shaft 56 extends upwardly from the top of the rotatable insulator stack 55 and through the bottom wall of a suitably supported fixed casing 51. To the upper end of the shaft 56 is secured a compound bevel gear 58 having two sets of teeth, 59 and 6| respectively. The teeth 59 mesh with a gear .62 secured to the inner end of a shaft 63 journaled in the wall of the casing 51; and the outer end of the shaft 63 carries an arm 64 which on its outer end slidably supports the arm 54. The teeth 6| of the composite gear 58 mesh at opposite sides thereof with bevel gears 65 and 66. The gear 65 is keyed to a shaft '61 journaled in the housing and having secured to its outer end an arm 68, and this arm 68 is connected through a rod 69 and a trunnioned collar 1| with the arm 54, this connection between the rod 69 and the arm 54 being such as to permit rotation of the arm 54 about its longitudinal axis with respect to the rod 69, whereas any longitudinal movement of the rod 69 is transmitted to and translated into a corresponding longitudinal movement of the arm 54. The gear 66 is keyed to a shaft 12 joumaled in the casing and having at its inner end a bevel gear 13 which meshes with a gear 14 on the end of a shaft 15, this latter shaft extending into the interior of and having a splined connection with one end of the tubular arm 54. While, therefore, rotarymovement of the shaft 15 is transmitted to the arm 54, this latter arm is permitted to slide axially upon the shaft 15. The shaft 15 is journaled in the wall of a casing 16 which is inounted for oscillation upon a cylindrical extension 11 of the casing 51 and about the axis of the shaft 12, whereby the casing 16 is free to move about said axis when the arm 54 is shifted between the operative position, shown in solid lines in Fig. 11, and the retracted or elevated position indicated in broken lines in the same figure. This elevated or retracted position of 'the arm 54 and the corresponding position of the casing 16 is also illustrated in Fig. 15.

In this case and as shown in the schematic view of Fig. 16, the gears 59, 6|, 62, 65 and 66 are not provided with a full complement of teeth with its cooperating gear 65 and 62, respectively.

It will be noted. however, that the gear 66 is meshing with the gear 6|. When under these conditions it is desired to adjust the switch into i the open or circuit-breaking position, the rotary insulator stack 55 is actuated to turn the gears 6| and 59 in the direction of the arrow, Fig.' 16.

arm 54. The angular movement of the shaft 54 70 under this actuation is suflicient to adjust the blade 41 from its normal position shown in full lines in Fig, 13 to a relatively inclined position as shown in broken lines in the same figure, and it will be noted that this angular movement of the blade is suflicient to break the contact between the edges of the blade and the arms of the contact member 49, thereby breaking the electric circuit.

At the completion of this angular movement of the blade 41, the gear 6| willhave moved sufficiently to bring its teeth into mesh with the teeth of. the gear 65, and the resulting actuation of the gear 65 will result in a corresponding rotation ofthe shaft 61 and a movement to the left,

.as viewed in Figs. 11 and 12, of the arm 68. This movement of the arm through the rod 69 and the connection 1| effects a longitudinal movement of the arm 54 sliding on the shaft 15 sufficient to retract the blade 41 through the aperture 52a in the wall of the housing 52, so that the arm 54 is now in condition to be elevated to the retracted inoperative position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 11. When the blade 41 has cleared the wall of the housing 52, the gear 59 will have advanced sufficiently to bring the teeth of that gear into mesh with the teeth of the gear 62, and the resulting actuation of the latter gear will result in a rotary movement of the shaft 63 and an elevation of the arm 64 connected to that shaft, and connected also as previously described with the arm 54. Elevation of the arm 64, therefore, results in a corresponding movement of the arm 54 about the axis of the shaft 12, and this movement continues until the arm 54 has moved into the fully retracted position shown in Fig. 15.

It will be noted in the operation of the device as described above that after the arm 54 has been adjusted longitudinally to carry the blade 41 clear of the housing 52 and the subsequent initiation of the elevation of the arm 54, the arm 69 moves as a unit with the arm 54 in the movement of this latter armaboutan axis corresponding to the axis of the shaft 12, and that, therefore, continued actuation of the gear 65 by the gear 6| does not result in a longitudinal adjustment of the arm 54 upon the shaft 15 beyond that required to carry the blade 41 out of the housing 52.

The sequence of movements of the tarious parts in the closing operation of the switch is the exact reverse of that described above. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 11 to 15, in-

- elusive, itwill be noted that the axial adjustment of the blade arm 54 is required by use of the housing 52 for the active switch elements. It is apparent that if this housing were eliminated or modified so thatsuch axial retraction of the arm 54 would not be required prior to the swinging of the arm 54 upwardly into the inoperative or retracted position, this requirement for the gear 65 and the immediately associated parts would be avoided, and that these parts might be removed without otherwise affecting the operativeness of the device. In such case in opening the switch, the angular movement of the blade 41 freeing it from contact with the contact member 49 would be followed immediately by an elevation of the arm 54 through the medium of the gears 58 and 82 and the arm 64. In such case also the arm 54 could be secured directly to the gear 14, since the splined connection between the shaft 15 and The embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 17 to 20, inclusive, is characterized by its simplicity of form and the relatively few gears employed to produce the compound movement of the switch element. The rotary insulator stack 80 in this case is connected to a gear 8| which is adapted to coact consecutively with gears 82 and 83 arranged at right angles to each other. The gear 82 is keyed to a shaft 84 which carries at its inner end a clevis 85 in which is pivotally secured the switch arm 86. The gear 88 is secured to a shaft 81 to which is also secured an arm 88 having at its outer end a collar 88 loosely embracing the arm 86. At the outer end of the arm 86 is a blade 88 of the same general character as the blade 81 of the previously described embodiment illustrated in Figs. l1, l2 and 13. The gears 8|, 82 and 83 are interrupted gears, as illustrated in Fig. 20, which shows these gears in the relative positions which they assume when theswitch is closed and when the elements are as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. In this position, the teeth of the gears 8| and 82 are in mesh, while the tooth-free peripheral portion of the gear 8| is in engagement with the locking element 9| of the gear 83 whereby the latter gear is prevented from rotating. It will be noted also that in this position of the elements, the clevis 85, see

Fig. 19, is in a position such that the pivot pin 92 which connects the switch arm 86 to the clevis is inclined at an angle of approximately 45. The initial movement of the gear 8| in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 20 causes a rotation of the gear 82 and of the shaft 84 such that the clevis is rotated toward the position in which it is shown in broken lines in Fig. 19. When the untoothed portion of the gear 8| engages the locking element 93 of the gear 82, the clevis will have assumed the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 19, wherein the pin'92 is in a horizontal position. Further movement in the same direction of the gear 8| brings the teeth of that gear into mesh with the teeth of the gear 83, thereby initiating a rotation of the latter gear which through the shaft 81 and arm 88 moves the arm 86 around the pivot pin 92, and assuming that the switch is mounted in the position illustrated in the drawings will elevate the arm 86. This movement of the arm 86 will continue until the locking element 94 of the gear 83 is engaged by the untoothed peripheral portion of the gear 8|. this compound movement, the switch arm 86 is first turned about its longitudinal axis to thereby angularly move the blade 98 sufficiently to free it from its coacting contact element (not shown). and will thereafter elevate the switch arm and the blade to a fully retracted position. A reverse movement of the gear 8| will first lower the arm 86, and subsequently rock the arm around its longitudinal axis to again engage the switch blade 98 with its companion contact member.

It is to be noted that in each of the various embodiments of my invention herein-described, I employ interrupted gear mechanism located at the electrically energized side of the switch for It will be noted that in I claim:

1. In a disconnecting switch of the type requiring successive different movements of at least one of the contact elements in each of the operations of closing and opening the switch, the combination with insulating means for segregating the electrically energized elements of said switch, of switch operating mechanism mounted on said insulating means and at the electrically energized side of the latter and including inirrupted gear means for effecting said successive movements, and actuating means for said mechanism at the unenergized side of said insulating means and operatively connected by way of the latter with said mechanism.

2. In a disconnecting switch of the type requiring successive difierent movements of at least one of the contact elements'in each of the operations of closing and opening the switch, the combination with a plurality of insulator stacks supporting the electrically energized elemeans of said switch, of switch operating mechanism mounted on said insulators and at the electrically energized side of the latter and including interrupted gear means for effecting said successive movements, actuating means for said mechanism at the unenergized side of said insulators, and transmission means including one of said insulator stacks for operatively connecting said actuating means with the said mechanism.

3. On the energized side of a disconnecting switch of the type requiring successive different movements of at least one of the contact elements in each of the operations of closing and opening the switch, the combination with an articulated member inclusive of one of said contact elements and comprising relatively movable parts aflording said successive movements of said element, of a common drive shaft and independent gear means operatively connecting said shaft with the said movable parts, respectively,

for producing said movements, at least one of said gear means being interrupted to afford a delayed operation of one of said parts to thereby effect the successive movements of said element.

4. In a disconnecting switch of the type requiring successive different movements of at least one of the contact elements in each of the operations of closing and opening the switch,

- the combination with insulating means for segregating the electrically energized elements of said switch, of switch operating mechanism mounted on said insulating means and at the electrically energized side of the latter and including interrupted gear means for effecting said successive movements, and actuating means for said mechanism at the unenergized side of said insulating means and operatively connected by way of the latter with said mechanism. said interrupted gears comprising non-reversible stop means operative to positively lock said contact element against movement except by forces exerted by said actuating means.

5. On the energized side of an electric switch, a switch member comprising relatively movable .elements, a common drive shaft, and means for individually operatively connecting said elements with the shaft, at least one of said individual connecting means comprising an interrupted gear affording a delayed actuation of one of said elements by the drive shaft.

' 6. On the energized side of an electric switch,-

I an operating shaft, a second operating shaft,

an arm secured on'the first of said operating shafts, a relatively movable switch element supported by said arm and connected to said second shaft, a common drive shaft, and toothed gears connecting said operating shafts individually to said drive shaft, the teethof at least one of said gears being interrupted to afford a delayed actuation of one of said operating shafts by the drive shaft.

7. In an electric switch, a pair of coaxial operating shafts, an arm secured to one of said shafts, a switch element movably mounted' on said arm and operatively connected to the other of said shafts, means including a common drive toothed gears operatively connecting the drive shaft to the second-named operating shaft, at

least one of the gears of the first-named set being interrupted whereby a continuous movement in one direction of the drive shaft may effect initially a movement of the switch element with respect to the arm, and a subsequent joint movement of the arm and said element about the common axis of the operating shafts.

8. In an electric switch, a pair of coaxial operating shafts, an arm secured to one of said shafts, a switch element mounted for longitudinal movement on said arm and operatively connected to the other of said shafts, means including a common drive shaft for turning said "operating shaftsv about their common axis, a set of toothed gears operatively connecting the drive shaft to the first-named operating shaft, and a second set of toothed gears operatively connecting the drive shaft to the second-named operating shaft, at least one of the gears of the first-named set being interrupted whereby a continuous movement in one direction of the drive shaft may effect initially a longitudinal movement of the switch element on the arm, and a subsequent joint movement of the arm and said element about the com mon axis of the respective operating shafts.

9. In an electric switch, a pair of coaxial operating shafts, an arm secured to one of said shafts, a switch element mounted on said arm for rotary movement about the axis of the latter and operatively connected to the other of said shafts, means including a common drive shaft for turning said operating shafts about their common axis, a set of toothed gears operatively connecting the drive shaft to the first-namedoperating shaft, and a second set of toothed gears.

operatively connecting the drive shaft to the second-named operating shaft, at least one of the gears of the first-namedset being interrupted whereby a continuous movement in one direction of the drive shaft may effect initially a movement of the switch element about the axis of said am, and a subsequent joint movement of the arm and said element about the common axis of the respective operating shafts.

10. In an electric switch, a plurality of coaxial least one of the seat of the first-named set and of one or the other of the second and third sets being interrupted whereby a continuous movement in one direction of the drive shaft may effect initially a rotary movement of the switch element about the axis of the arm, secondly a longitudinal movement of the switch element with respect -to the arm, and subsequently a joint movement of the arm and said element about the common axis of the respective operating shafts.

11. In an electric switch, a plurality of coaxial operating shafts, an arm secured to one of said shafts, a switch element having individual operative connections with two others of said shafts and being mounted on said arm for movements longitudinally of said, arm and about the axis of the latter under actuation by the last-named shafts respectively, means for actuating said operating shafts, said means including a, common drive shaft and toothed gears individually connecting the operating shafts with the drive shaft, at least two of said individual connections comprising an interrupted gear element whereby a continuous movement in one direction of the drive shaft may effect an initial movement of the switch element about the axis of said arm, a secondary movement of said switch element longitudinally of the arm, and a subsequent joint movement of the arm and said element about the common axis of the operating shafts.

12. On the energized side of an electric switch,

- an operating shaft, a switch member secured to said shaft for movement about the axis of the latter, a drive shaft, interrupted gear means operatively connecting said shafts and providing for actuation of said operating shaft through a predetermined angle of rotation, said gears comprising means for positively locking said operating shaft at at least one end of said rotational angle against movement by forces other than those applied through the drive shaft.

13. In an electric switch, a pair of operating shafts, an arm secured to one of said shafts, a switch element mounted on said arm for rotary movement about the axis of the latter and operatively connected to the other of said shafts, a common drive shaft for turning said operating shafts, and gear means operatively connecting said drive shaft with the operating shafts, said gear means being interrupted whereby a continuous movement in one direction of thedrive shaft may effect initially a movement of the switch element about the axis of said arm under actuation of the second-named operating shaft and a subsequent translational movement of the arm and of said element under actuation of the first-named operating shaft.

14. In an electric switch, a pair of operating shafts, an arm connected to one of said shafts for movement by the latter between two alternative positions of adjustment, means operatively connecting said am to the other of said shafts for oscillation about a longitudinal axis, a switch element mounted on said am for movement with the latter, a common drive shaft for turning said operating shafts, and gear means operatively connecting said drive shaftwith the operating shafts, said gear means being interrupted whereby a continuous movement in one direction of the drive shaft may effect successive rotary movements of said operating shafts.

- JOHN E. P. GRANT. 

